Lock and indexing mechanism for controlling incremental rotation of rotatable structure

ABSTRACT

A lock and indexing mechanism for controlling successive equal increments of rotational motion of rotatable structure, such as a paddle wheel type article release structure in a vending or dispensing machine. The shaft of the structure extends into the mechanism and is provided with a rotor section that carries a number of balls or rollers which are radially shiftable toward and away from locking positions received within angularly spaced recesses in a stationary control member of the mechanism. To index the structure, the balls are permitted to move out of respective recesses by the operation of a rotatable control member of the mechanism coaxial with the stationary member, the rotatable member being momentarily actuated and then returned to a standby position causing each ball to relock in the next recess to interrupt rotation of the structure after one increment of rotation.

S t tes John W. Baxendale [72] lnventor Kansas City, Mo. [2]] App]. No. 22,868 [22] Filed Mar. 26, 1970 [45] Patented Dec. 1 1, 19711 [7 3] Assignee The Vendo Company Kansas City, Mo. Continuation-impart of application Ser. No. 832,093, June 11, 1969, now abandoned. This application Mar. 26, 1970, Ser. No. 22,868

[54] LOCKAND TNDEXTNG MlEClHlANlSM FOR CONTROLLING INCRIEMIENTAIL ROTATHON OIF ROTATABLE STRUCTURE 21 Claims, 18 Drawing Figs.

[52] 11.8. C1 221/295, 188/8284 [51] lint. Cl. 865g 59/011 [50] Field of Search 74/1.5; 194/10; 188/82-84; 221/295 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,797,826 3/1931 Gage 188/8284 X Primary Examiner-Samuel F. Coleman Attorney-Schmidt, Johnson, Hovey & Williams ABSTRACT: A lock and indexing mechanism for controlling successive equal increments of rotational motion of rotatable structure, such as a paddle wheel type article release structure in a vending or dispensing machine, The shaft of the structure extends into the mechanism and is provided with a rotor section that carries a number of balls or rollers which are radially shiftable toward and away from locking positions received within angularly spaced recesses in a stationary control member of the mechanism. To index the structure, the balls are permitted to move out of respective recesses by the operation of a rotatable control member of the mechanism coaxial with the stationary member, the rotatable member being momentarily actuated and then returned to a standby position causing each ball to relock in the next recess to interrupt rotation of the structure after one increment ofrotation.

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4 Sheets-Sheet 1 m R N E V m 0016/? 14/ BaxQ/vda/e ORNEYS Patented in 3mm 4 Sheets-Sheet 73 HIM ' INVENTOR do/m W fim e/ma/e ATTORNEYS Patented Dec. 34 19H 4 Sheets-Sheet .5

INVENTOR 00/90 l/M Bmrwma/e ATTORNEYS mmm Patented Dec. 14, 1971 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENIUR. um l/kfiawenda/e TiORNE Y5 Cross-REFERENCES This application is a continuation in part of my copending application, Ser. No. 832,093, filed June 1 l, I969, now abandoned.

This invention relates to improvements in mechanisms for controlling incremental rotation of rotatable structures and, furthermore, to devices for controlling the successive release of articles from a stacked supply thereof, as in vending and dispensing machines and in the automation of warehouses or supermarkets.

An article release device of the paddle-wheel type, such as disclosed in the copending application of John W. Baxendale et al., Ser. No. 721,460, filed Apr. 15, l968and entitled DOU- ELIE-DEPTH SERPENTINE CAN VENDER, is an example of a mechanical apparatus in which an incrementally rotatable structure (the paddle wheel or wheels) must be positively controlled each time the structure undergoes rotational indexing. In addition to being reliable, the mechanism employed to control the incremental rotation is desirably of a design which is readily adapted to various angular increments of rotation, as may be dictated by a particular application. Furthermore, moving parts should have a relatively long life in spite of the high frequency of repetitive operation encountered in many applications.

It is, therefore, the primary object of the present invention to provide a lock and indexing mechanism for controlling incremental rotation wherein such mechanism is characterized by the foregoing attributes of high reliability, design flexibility, and relatively long life.

Another important object of the invention is to provide a mechanism as aforesaid which is relatively inexpensive and uncomplex in construction, and yet positively locks the structure under control after indexing operation thereof.

Still another important object of the invention is to provide an embodiment of the aforesaid mechanism that is particularly suited for applications in which mechanical motion of the operating component of the mechanism required to effect unlocking thereof at the commencement of an indexing operation is preferably held to a minimum relative to the total motion of the operating component, in order to render a larger portion of the total motion available for secondary control functions and reduce the critically of construction tolerances.

Yet another important object of the invention is to provide a mechanism as aforesaid having a compact design with good protection for the components thereof.

Furthermore, it is an important aim of the present invention to provide an article release device of the paddle wheel type incorporating the aforesaid mechanism to control the indexing of the paddle wheel, wherein such device may constitute either a single or a multiple unit for single or multiple stacks of articles and wherein the design of the device provides maximum standardization of the working parts thereof. In this connection, it should be understood that in a double unit, for example, release of articles from alternate stakes may be desired, thereby requiring a different angular increment of rotation of the paddle wheels each time one article is released as compared to a single unit device.

In the drawings:

FIG. I is a fragmentary, vertical sectional view through the housing of a vending or dispensing machine showing the single unit article release device of the present invention in side elevation;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary, vertical sectional view taken along line 22 of FIG. I and showing the device in front elevation;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged, side elevational view of the device of FIG. I, shown from the opposite side;

FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view of the device on the same scale as FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary. top plan view of the device on the same scale as FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is a bottom plan view of a double unit;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged, cross-sectional view of the lock and indexing mechanism of the double unit, taken along line 8-8 of FIG. 9;

FIG. 9 is an irregular, cross-sectional view taken along line IL-9 of FIG. 8, the shaft, pins and ball being shown in elevation for clarity;

FIGS. 10-13 are views similar to FIG. 8 but showing the single unit of FIGS. 1-6 and illustrating; the operation of the unit during release of an article;

FIG. I4 is a view of a modified form of lock and indexing mechanism for a double unit and includes a cross section taken along line I4-14 of FIG. 18, the series of views comprising FIGS. I4-ll7 being similar to FIGS. 10-13 and illustrating the operation of the modified form; and

FIG. 18 is an irregular, cross-sectional view taken along line 18-48 of FIG. 14, certain parts being shown in elevation for clarity.

FIGS. 1-13 In FIGS. I and 2 a serpentine stack vending machine is fragmentarily illustrated as an example of an application in which the lock and indexing mechanism and the article release device of the present invention may be utilized. Accordingly, the lower portion of a serpentine column 20 is shown and is defined by the opposing, inner vertical surfaces of a pair of sidewalls or partitions 22 and 24 disposed behind the front panel 26 of the machine housing. A pair of opposed, continuous rails 28 are supported by the inner surfaces of the sidewalls 22 and 24, together with a pair of opposed, continuous rails 30 which are spaced below the rails 28 beginning at the bottom bend of the serpentine column configuration. A number of cylindrical articles A, such as canned beverages, are shown in FIG. I (and in phantom lines in FIG. 2) riding on the rails 30, the column 20 terminating at its lower end in register with a delivery opening 32. Normally, vending machines of this type have multiple columns in side-by-side relationship, thus each of the sidewalls 22 and 24 is also provided with continuous rails 34 and 36 on the opposite vertical surface thereof, the rails 34 and 36 being utilized to support the articles of adjacent columns (not shown).

Referring to FIGS. 1-6, a single unit article release device is shown having a frame broadly denoted 38 which is configured to form a pair of laterally spaced ramps 40 that receive the two lowermost articles A at the lower end of the column 20, as is clear in FIG. I. A pair of opposed side flanges 42 project outwardly from the sides and below respective ramps 40, a pair of mounting lugs 44 being formed on the frame 38 above each of the side flanges 42 to provide a means of securing the device in place of the lower stretches of the rails 30. As is clear in FIG. 2, the lugs 44 overlie the rails 30 with the side flanges 42 projecting therebeneath.

A shaft 46 is rotatably carried by frame 38 and has a paddle wheel 48 mounted thereon for rotation with the shaft 46. The paddle wheel 48 has four radically extending paddle elements 50 at angular intervals, and is centered between the two ramps 40. One end of the shaft 46 extends into a lock and indexing mechanism 52 to be subsequently described in detail. The mechanism 52 has a stationary, outer control member in the form of a tubular housing 54 surrounding the one end of the shaft 46, and a crank arm 56 extends downwardly from the mechanism 52 as best seen in FIG. 5. A link 58 is joined to the lower end of the arm 56 by a pivot pin 60, the link 58 serving to connect the armature 62 of a selection solenoid 64 to the crank arm 56. A return spring 66 for the armature 62 is connected between the pivot pin 60 and an adjacent part of the frame 38. The spring 66 normally holds the crank arm 56 against a stop 65. A pawl 67 biased by a spring 69 is pivotally mounted on the pin 60 and is employed to drive the paddle wheel 48 in the event that the article load is low, as will be explained hereinafter.

A credit cancelling switch 68 is mounted above the solenoid 64 and has an actuating arm 70 which extends into overlying engagement with pivot pin 60, as is best seen in FIG. 5. The actuating arm 70 is biased downwardly and thus shifts to operate the switch 68 upon downward movement of the pin 60, effected when the solenoid 64 is energized.

A pair of sold-out switches 72 are mounted on the opposite side of the device and have actuating arms 74 which are engageable by a laterally projecting leg 76 of an irregularly shaped sold-out wire 78. An opposite leg 80 of the wire 78 serves as an axle therefor to mount the wire 78 for pivotal movement in a direction to shift the leg 76 into and out of engagement with the actuating arms 74 in accordance with the level of articles in the column 20. A spring 82 biases the wire 78 toward the position thereof illustrated in FIGS. 3-6 wherein the wire 78 projects above the ramps 40 with the leg 76 thereof engaging and operating the arms 74. The presence of articles on the ramps 40 as in FIG. 1 depresses the wire 78 to release the arms 74 and thus deactivate the sold-out switches 72.

At this juncture it should be understood that the illustration herein of the credit cancelling switch 68 and the two sold-out switches 72 is purely exemplary since other switching combinations or arrangements may be utilized in vending machine applications depending upon the particular coin-controlled circuitry employed in the machine. In the present example, one of the sold-out switches 72 could be utilized to energize a sold-out lamp when the articles of the column are depleted, while the other switch 72 could serve a credit retention function to permit the customer to change his selection to an undepleted column in the event that he first selects the sold-out column. In conventional vending machine operating circuitry, this function is commonly effected by opening the normal circuit from the selector switch to the selection solenoid so that the latter will not be energized if the sold-out column is selected. With respect tothe credit-cancelling switch 68, its function in conventional control circuitry would ,be to break the holding circuit of a credit relay to, in turn, deenergize the selection solenoid 64 to permit its armature 62 to return to the standby position thereof shown under the action of the return spring 66. It may be seen, therefore, that in circuitry of this type the credit retention function of one of the sold-out switches 72 is important since energization of the selection solenoid of a sold-out column automatically causes the cancellation of credit. For an illustration of circuitry of this type, reference may be had to the aforesaid copending application, Ser. No. 72 l ,460.

Referring to FIG. 7, a double unit is shown embodying the concepts of the indexing mechanism and release device of the present invention. The double unit is structurally quite similar to the single unit and would be employed to control the release of articles from a pair of adjacent columns. A common shaft 146 is provided for two paddle wheels 148 and 148a, each of the paddle wheels comprising a set of four paddle elements as in the single unit. However, the four paddle elements 150 are angularly ofiset 45 with respect to the four paddle elements 150a for the purpose of effecting alternate delivery of articles from the two columns, as will be subsequently discussed. It may be noted that the normally upper portion of the frame 138 of the double unit forms a single center ramp 140 rather than the split ramp of the single unit, the provision of ramps or other supplemental article supports on both sides of the paddle wheels being unnecessary due to the presence of the opposed rails of the column structure. Furthermore, it should be appreciated that either the single or the double unit ,may be inverted with respect to the position thereof illustrated, the paddle elements then extending downwardly from above into engagement with the articles of the column or columns.

The selection solenoid 164 of the double unit operates a crank arm 156 extending from a lock and indexing mechanism 152 asin the single unit, the link 158, pawl 167, pivot pin 160, and solenoid return spring 166 being visible in FIG. 7. A credit cancelling switch 168 has an actuating arm 170 which normally rides on top of the pin 160 asinthe single unit. Two sold-out switches 172 are provided having actuating arms 174, but a variation on the single unit design is required due to the necessity of sensing the presence of articles in each of the two columns independently. Therefore, a sold-out wire 178 is disposed for engagement by OPERATION-of one column, and a sold-out wire 178a is disposed for engagement by the articles of the adjacent column. The wires 178 and 178a have laterally extending legs 176 and 1760 respectively engageable with the actuating arms 174. The wires 178 and 1780 are biased toward their sold-out positions by springs 182 and 182a respectively, and are pivotal on their integral leg portions and 180a.

The lock and indexing mechanism 152 is shown in detail in FIGS. 8 and 9* The shaft 146 has a collar 184 secured thereto by a cross pin 185, the collar 184 being disposed within the tubular housing 154 and presenting an annular rotor section 186 which is radially spaced from the shaft 146. A rotatable, collarlike, inner control member 187 is slipped over the shaft 146 into the annular space between the rotor section 186 and the shaft 146, the member 187 being integrally formed with the crank arm 156. Four antifriction components in the nature of ball bearings 188 (rollers could also be employed) are carried by the rotor section 186, the latter having four openings 189 therein spaced at 90 intervals and receiving respective balls 188 to confine the latter for rotation with the rotor section 186, while permitting free radical movement of the balls as will be subsequently discussed.

The tubular housing or outer control member 154 has an annular portion of greater inside diameter that is provided with eight internal recesses 190 spaced at 45 intervals as is clear in FIG. 8, four of the recesses 190 receiving respective balls 188 when the mechanism is locked, such being the condition thereof illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9. The inner control member 187 is likewise provided with eight radially projecting locking lugs 191 spaced apart at 45 intervals, the lugs 191 being in substantial radial alignment with corresponding recesses 190 when the mechanism is in the locked condition. As may be seen in FIG. 9, an extension of the rotor section 186 projects from the housing 154 and is provided with a circumferentially continuous series of ratchet teeth 192 which receive the pawl 167.

The lock and indexing mechanism 52 for the single unit is shown in FIGS. 10-13 in association with diagrammatic representations of other parts of the device illustrating the operation thereof. In FIG. 10, the mechanism 52 is shown in its standby, locked condition corresponding to the illustration of mechanism 152 in FIG. 8. It may be noted that the mechanism 52 comprises a rotor section 86 within the housing 54 surrounding an inner control member 87, the rotor section 86 carrying four balls 88 receivable within internal recesses 90 of the housing 54. The inner control member 87 has four locking lugs 91 spaced at 90 intervals the recesses 90 likewise being four in number rather than eight as in the double unit mechanism. The ratchet teeth 92 on the external extension of the rotor section 86 are clearly visible in FIG. 10 since a portion of the housing 54 is broken away, revealing the pawl 67 in engagement with the ratchet teeth 92. Thus, the mechanism 52 is identical to the mechanism 152 described in detail above, except for the provision of only four locking lugs 91 and corresponding locking recesses 90 rather than eight. This distinction, as will be discussed fully hereinafter, causes the mechanism 52 to index in 90 increments while the mechanism 152 indexes in 45 increments.

OPERATION -FIGS. 1- 13 Referring to FIGS. 10-13, the articles A are prevented from gravitating from the stack along the rails 30 by the presence of the paddle element 50 shown in FIGS. 10 and 11 in front of the lowermost article of the stack. In FIG. 10, the lock and indexing mechanism 52 is shown in its standby or locked condition where it may be noted that the rotor section 06 (and hence the shaft 46 and the paddle wheel 48) is locked to the housing 54 by virtue of the interengagment of the balls 86 and the housing 54 within its internal recesses 90. When it is desired to release one of the articles A for gravitation on down the rails 30 and into the delivery opening 32 (FIG. 1), the selection solenoid 64 is energized, such as by the closing of a suitable selector switch (not shown).

The operation of the mechanism 52 at the time of selection is illustrated in FIG. llll where it may be seen that the solenoid armature 62 has shifted to swing the crank arm 56 in a counterclockwise direction and, in turn, rotate the inner control member 07 as indicated. This shifts the four locking lugs 91 out of alignment with the locking recesses 90 and thus efiectively removes the previous supports for the balls 00, permitting the latter to shift radially inwardly as shown as the pad clle wheel 40 commences rotation under the weight of the arti cles A.

H6. 12 shows the position of the paddle wheel 40 after rotation thereof has commenced but prior to release of the lowermost article A. At the time depicted in FIG. 12, the solenoid armature 62 and the crank arm 56 are in the same positions as in FIG. 11, thus the inner control member 87 is also still in its operated position. As the paddle wheel 40, the shaft 46, and the rotor section 66 rotate in unison, the balls 00 are carried with the rotor section 06 and with each ball 68 advancing toward the next locking lug 91, as depicted in FIG. 12. However, energization of the selection solenoid 64 and attendant rotation of the crank arm 56 has also caused the release of the actuating arm 70 that rides on the pivot pin 60, thereby effecting operation of the credit cancelling switch 63 to, in turn, deenergize the solenoid 64. The solenoid armature 62 is now influenced by the return spring 66 and shifts back to its standby position illustrated in FIG. l3. This returns the inner control member 87 to its standby position to realign the locking lugs 91 with the internal recesses 90 of the housing or outer control member 54. Therefore, as rotation of rotor section 06 continues, each ball 00 is forced into the next recess 90 by the position of the corresponding lug 91, the width of the recesses 90 and the radical distance between the latter and corresponding lugs 91 being such as to permit the balls 60 to enter the recesses 90 where they are confined therein. In this connection, it should be noted that the standby position of each lug 01 is slightly angularly advanced (clockwise) with respect to the corresponding recess 90 so that the ball may enter the recess but is prevented from escaping therefrom until such time that the inner control member 87 is once again rotated by the energization of the solenoid 64.

As the paddle wheel 40 continues to rotate between the positions thereof illustrated in FlGS. l2 and 13, one of the paddle elements 50 moves into blocking relationship to the next lowermost article, the lowermost article then being released as the prior article-blocking paddle element 50 moves beneath the plane of the rails 30. After this occurs, the mechanism 52 relocks and returns to the standby condition thereof shown in FIG. 10. In the event that the column is nearing depletion such that the load on the paddle wheel 40 is insufficient to initiate rotation thereof by the weight of the article or articles themselves, the pawl 67 imparts clockwise rotation to the rotor section 86 as the crank arm 56 returns to its standby position against the stop 65 under the action of the return spring 66. Thus, indexing is assured even though rotation of the paddle wheel 46 has not commenced at the time that the solenoid 64 is deenergized.

The operation of the lock and indexing mechanism 152 of the double unit is essentially the same as that shown in FlGS. -12 and described above, except that indexing is effected in 45 increments rather than 90 increments. This is achieved since eight locking lugs 1191 and the eight recesses 100 (FIGS. 8 and 9) are employed in the mechanism 152, it being apparent therefore that the basic design of the ball lock and indexing mechanism of the present invention readily lends itself to adaptation to any desired increment of rotational indexing by merely substituting inner and outer control members of appropriate configuration. in the double unit, the 45 indexing increment. together with the 45 offsetting of the two paddle wheels 1140 and 1460, provides alternate dispensing from two stacks of articles. Since each of the paddle wheels 148 and 140a has four paddle elements as in the single unit, a total of of rotation of a particular paddle wheel is required to release an article; therefore, each of the paddle wheels 148 and 146a of the double unit will release an article every other time the mechanism 152 permits the paddle wheels to index, the 45 offsetting of the two paddle wheels thus causing alternate dispensing from the two stacks. This is particularly advantageous in multicolumn vending machines where it is desired to load two columns with like products, since alternate dispensing assures that the columns, if equally stocked with producm, will be depleted equally during use of the machine.

FIGS. 14-10 A modified form of lock and indexing mechanism 200 for controlling rotation in 45 increments is illustrated in FIGS. ll4-ll8. One end of a shaft 202 has a collar 204 secured thereto by a cross pin 206, the inner face of the collar 204 being provided with an integral, annular rotor section 208. Four openings 210 in the rotor section 208 are spaced 90 apart and receive four antifriction components in the nature of ball bearings 212. The end of the shaft 202 turns in a bearing 214 rigid with a baseplate 216, the bearing 214 having a portion of reduced diameter that presents an inner, stationary control member 210 of the mechanism 200. The balls 212 are normally disposed in locking positions (FIGS. 14 and 18) within respective outwardly facing recesses 220 in the outer surface of the control member 218, the latter being of annular configuration except for the presence of the recesses 220 which are eight in number and are spaced at 45 intervals. Accordingly, the rotor section 208 is telescoped over and surrounds the inner control member 218. An outer, annular control member 222 then surrounds the rotor section 200 and is rotatable about the common axis of the shaft 202 and rotor section 208. The outer control member 222 has an integral crank arm 224 extending radially outwardly therefrom and joined by a pivot pin 226 to a link 228 that connects the crank arm 224 to the armature 230 of a solenoid 232.

The outer control member 222 is provided with eight radially inwardly projecting locking lugs 234 spaced apart at 45 intervals, the lugs 234 being in substantial radial alignment with corresponding recesses 220 when the mechanism 200 is in the locked condition. It should be noted that each of the locking lugs 234 is of the same width and that, furthermore, this width is equal to the width of each of the lands or projections formed between adjacent pairs of recesses 220 in the inner control member 218. Accordingly, the internal recesses 236 in the outer member 222 between adjacent pairs of locking lugs 234 are of greater length than the outwardly facing recesses 220 in the inner member 218.

The circumferential surface of the collar 204 is formed with a series of ratchet teeth 238 engageable by a pawl 240 pivotally carried by the pivot pin 226. Several of the teeth 238 are visible in FIG. 14 in order to show the interrelationship of the teeth 230 and the pawl 240 when the mechanism 200 is locked. A return spring 242 for the armature 230 is connected to the pivot pin 226 and, when the solenoid 232 is deenergized, urges the outer control member 222 and the pawl 240 toward the positions thereof shown in FIG. 14 with the crank arm 224 abutting a stop 244.

In a vending machine such as illustrated herein and described above, the shaft 202 would provide the mount for the paddle wheels 148 and 1480 of the double unit. A credit cancelling switch 246 has an actuating am 248 which extends into underlying engagement with the pivot pin 226, the arm 240 being biased upwardly and thus shifting to operate the switch 246 upon upward movement of the pin 226, such being effected when the solenoid 232 is energized. In the exemplary vending machine application described and illustrated herein, the switch 246 serves the same function as the cancel switches 68 and 168 of the previously described signal and double units. The solenoid 232 would be the selection solenoid and is energized as above by the closing of a suitable selector switch.

OPERATION-FIGS. 14-18 The mechanism 200 is inverted with respect to the mechanism 52 illustrated in FIGS. -13 but the basic mode of operation remains the same. Initial energization of the solenoid 232 to unlock the mechanism 200 isillustrated in FIG. 15 where it may be seen that the outer control member 222 undergoes clockwise rotation. Prior to this time in standby, as depicted in FIG. 14, the balls 212 were held in corresponding recesses 220 in the inner control member 218 by the engagement of four of the locking lugs 234 therewith. In FIG. 15 the lugs 234 are shifted to permit the balls 212 to ride up out of the recesses 220, thereby pennitting counterclockwise rotation of the rotor section 208 and the shaft 202 as indicated by the arrows. The internal recesses 236 in the outer control member 222 provide clearance for the balls 212 so that the latter, captured by the rotor section 208, pass over the lands projecting from the inner control member 218. This is depicted in FIG. 16 where the rotor section 208 and the shaft 202 are shown after 15 of rotation.

Since the stroke of the armature 230 upon energization of the solenoid 232 causes the actuator arm 248 of the cancel switch 246 to be released, deenergization of the solenoid 232 quickly occurs and the armature 230 is returned to its normal position under the action of the spring 242. This is depicted in FIG. 17 where it may be seen that the rotor section 208 and the shaft 202 have now advanced 30, the return of the outer control member 222 being effective to permit the balls 212 to pass the lands of the inner control member 218 and be received within the next recesses 220 in the direction of rotation of the rotor and shaft. After another 15 of rotation (a total of 45), the balls 212 will be locked in the respective recesses 220 by the lugs 234 as in FIG. 14, except that the rotor and shaft will have indexed 45. As in the previous embodiments, the pawl 240 engages the teeth 238 during return movement of the crank arm 224 to impart rotation to the rotor section 208 in the event that the shaft 202 has not commenced rotation at the time that the solenoid 232 is deenergized.

From the foregoing, it may be appreciated that the inner control member 218 is stationary and the outer control member 222 is rotatable in the modified form of the invention shown in FIGS. 14-18, in direct contrast to the previous embodiments described hereinabove. Accordingly, the balls 212 shift radially outwardly and then inwardly during unlocking and relocking of the mechanism 200 and are forced to ride over the lands projecting from the inner member 218. However, this arrangement is advantageous as compared with the previous embodiments in those applications where it is desired to minimize the angular movement of the rotatable control member 222 required to effect unlocking of the mechanism. For example, in the vending machine application illustrated herein, the time of opening of the contacts of the cancel switch 246 is subject to variation from switch to switch in accordance with manufacturing tolerances as well as the positioning of the switch housing itself, and it is mandatory that unlocking be completed before the armature 230 returns to its standby position. The problem is further compounded by the necessarily long length of the actuator arm 248 and the cor responding length of its throw. However, as pointed out hereinabove, the length of each internal recess 236 in the outer control member 222 is greater than the length of each recess 220 in the inner control member 218 since the lugs 234 and the lands (between the recesses 220) are of a larger radius than the outer surfaces of the lands. Accordingly, the lug surfaces have lesser angular widths than the land surfaces and the angular lengths of the recesses 236 in the outer member 222 are correspondingly greater than the angular lengths of the recesses 220 in the inner member 218. Therefore, as compared with the operation of the mechanism 200 with the inner member 218 rotatable and the outer member 222 stationary as in the previous embodiments, fewer degrees of the movement of the crank arm 224 is required to release the balls 212 for movement to their unlocking positions. Consequently, a greater proportion of the number of degrees of movement of the crank am 224 is available for operating the cancel switch 246 after unlocking of the mechanism 220 is effected. The mechanism 200 is thus advantageously suited in general to applications in which secondary control functions must also be executed in response to actuation of the crank arm 224and during its limited angular displacement. This is particularly the case in instances where the increment of rotation to be controlled by the mechanism is relatively small, thus inherently restricting the total angular throw of the crank arm 224.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. Mechanism for controlling successive equal increments of rotational motion of rotatable structure, said mechanis comprising:

an outer, annular control member;

an inner control member disposed within said outer member in substantially coaxial relationship thereto;

a rotor adapted for coupling with said structure and disposed within said outer member in surrounding relationship to said inner member,

one of said members being rotatable with respect to the other of said members;

actuating means connected to said one member for rotating the latter from a standby to an operated position; and

latch means between said members operable to lock the rotor to said other member and thereby hold the structure against rotation in one direction, said latch means being movable into disposition freeing the rotor and thereby said structure for rotation in said direction upon operation of the actuating means to rotate said one member to said operated position thereof,

said actuating means returning said one member to its standby position to interrupt rotation of the rotor after the latter has rotated through a predetermined arc, whereby to interrupt rotation of the structure after the latter has rotated through one of said increments.

2. The mechanism as claimed in claim 1,

said other member having means engageable by said latch means and cooperating therewith to effect said locking of the rotor to said other member.

3. The mechanism as claimed in claim 1,

said latch means being radially shiftable toward and away from said other member between a position engaging said other member to lock said rotor thereto, and said disposition freeing the rotor where the latch means is out of locking engagement with said other member,

said latch means, upon rotation of said one member to its operated position, being movable with said rotor as the latter rotates in said direction.

4. The mechanism as claimed in claim 3, said other member having means for receiving said latch means each time said rotor rotates through said arc,

said one member, upon return of the latter to the standby position thereof, effecting radial shifting of said latch means toward said other member and into said receiving means to its locking position.

5. The mechanism as claimed in claim 1,

said latch means including an antifriction component,

said rotor having an opening therein receiving said component to capture the latter for movement with the rotor upon rotation thereof in said direction,

said other member having recesses therein spaced at angular intervals equal to said arc,

said opening being disposed to permit radial movement of said component into and out of each of said recesses between a locked position engaging said other member within an individual recess, and an unlocked position clearing the recesses where said rotor is free to rotate,

said one member having a plurality of radially projecting, regularly angularly spaced locking lugs equal in number to said recesses,

one of said lugs, when said one member is in its standby position, engaging said component to hold the latter in the locked position thereof,

said one member, in its operated position, rotating said one lug out of engagement with said component to permit movement thereof to said unlocked position and attendant rotation of said rotor until the component engages the next lug in said direction.

6. The mechanism as claimed in claim 5,

v said lugs, when said one member is in its standby position,

being in substantial radial alignment with said recesses whereby said component is held in one of the recesses when said one member is in its standby position before rotation thereof by said actuating means, and is subsequently forced into the next recess in said direction upon return of said one member to the standby position following freeing of the rotor.

7. The mechanism as claimed in claim 1,

said rotor being provided with a drive part externally of said outer member; and

means engageable with said part for driving the rotor in said direction as said one member returns to its standby position.

8. The mechanism as claimed in claim ll,

said rotor being provided with ratchet teeth externally of said outer member; and

a pawl movable with said one member and engageable with said teeth for driving the rotor in said direction as said one member returns to its standby position.

9. The mechanism of as claimed in claim 1,

said one member being said inner member and said other member being said outer member said outer member presenting a tubular housing receiving said rotor and said inner member therewithin.

10. The mechanism as claimed in claim 9,

said latch means including an antifriction component,

said rotor having an opening therein receiving said component to capture the latter for movement with the rotor upon rotation thereof in said direction,

said housing having internal recesses spaced at angular intervals equal to aid arc,

said opening being disposed to permit radial movement of said component into and out of each of said recesses between a locked position engaging the housing within an individual recess, and an unlocked position clearing the recesses where said rotor is free to rotate,

said inner member having a plurality of radially outwardly projecting, regularly angularly spaced locking lugs equal in number to said recesses,

one of said lugs, when said inner member is in its standby position, engaging said component to hold the latter in the locked position thereof,

said inner member, in its operated position, rotating said one lug out of engagement with said component to permit movement thereof to said unlocked position and attendant rotation of said rotor until the component engages the next lug in said direction.

Ill. The mechanism as claimed in claim 1,

said one member being said outer member and said other member being said inner member,

said latch means including an antifriction component,

said rotor having an opening therein receiving said component to capture the latter for movement with the rotor upon rotation thereof in said direction,

said inner member having outwardly facing recesses therein spaced at angular intervals equal to said are,

said opening being disposed to permit radial movement of said component into and out of each of said recesses between a locked position engaging the inner member within an individual recess, and an unlocked position clearing the recesses where said rotor is free to rotate, said outer member having a plurality of radially inwardly projecting, regularly angularly spaced locking lugs equal in number to said recesses, one of said lugs, when said outer member is in its standby position, engaging said component to hold the latter in the locked position thereof, said outer member, in its operated position, rotating said one lug out of engagement with said component to permit movement thereof to said unlocked position and attendant rotation of said rotor until the component engages the next lug in said direction. 12. The mechanism as claimed in claim 11, each adjacent pair of said locking lugs defining an internal recess therebetween in said outer member, said component moving radially outwardly into one of said internal recesses in said outer member to its unlocked position upon rotation of said outer member to the operated position thereof, the angular lengths of said internal recesses in the outer member being greater than the angular lengths of said outwardly facing recesses in said inner member, whereby to minimize the angular displacement of the outer member between its standby and operated positions. 13. A device for controlling successive release of articles from a stacked supply thereof, said device comprising:

an outer, annular control member; an inner control member disposed within said outer member in substantially coaxial relationship thereto; rotatable structure having a plurality of radially extending, angularly spaced, article blocking elements and provided with a rotor section disposed within said outer member in surrounding relationship to said inner member, one of said members being rotatable with respect to the other of said members; actuating means connected to said one member for rotating the latter from a standby to an operated position; and latch means between said members operable to lock the rotor section to said other member and thereby hold the structure against rotation in a direction permitting release of an article from said supply thereof, said latch means being movable into disposition freeing the rotor section and thereby said structure for rotation in said direction upon operation of the actuating means to rotate said one member to said operated position thereof, said actuating means returning said one member to its standby position to interrupt rotation of the structure after the latter has rotated through an arc permitting the elements to release one article from said stacked supply thereof. M. The device as claimed in claim 13, said elements comprising a single release unit and being disposed to cause one element to engage and block the lowermost article of a single stack: thereof when said one member is in its standby position, while all of the remaining elements are disposed to move successively into blocking relationship to respective next lowermost articles of said stack as said structure rotates incrementally to unblock successive lowermost articles and thereby release the same one by one from said stack, said one member having means cooperating with said latch means to effect said interruption of rotation of the structure when said are equals 360 divided by the number of said elements. R5. The device as claimed in claim l3, said structure having a plurality of sets of said elements on a common shaft rigid with said rotor section, said sets being spaced apart along said shaft in disposition to control the release of corresponding stacks of articles of said stacked supply thereof,

the elements of each of said sets being disposed to cause one element thereof to engage and block the lowermost article of the corresponding stack and when said one member is in its standby position, while all of the remaining elements of the set are disposed to move successively into blocking relationship to respective lowermost articles as said structure rotates incrementally to unblock the lowermost articles of the stacks and thereby release the lowermost articles,

said sets being angularly offset to effect equal depletion of the stacks and the release of one of said lowermost articles at a time,

said one member having means cooperating with said latch means to efi'ect said interruption of rotation of the structure when said are has permitted the release of only one of said lowermost articles.

16. The device as claimed in claim 13,

there being means engageable with said structure for driving the latter in said direction as said one member returns to its standby position, whereby to assure that rotation of the structure commences in the event that the supply of articles is low.

17. The device as claimed in claim 13,

said rotor section being provided with ratchet teeth externally of said outer member; and

a pawl movable with said one member and engageable with said teeth for driving the rotor section in said direction as said one member returns to its standby position, whereby to assure that rotation of the structure commences in the event that the supply of articles is low.

18. The device as claimed in claim 13,

said one member being said inner member and said other member being said outer member,

said outer member presenting a tubular housing receiving said rotor section and said inner member therewithin.

19. The device as claimed in claim 18,

said latch means including an antifriction component,

said rotor section having an opening therein receiving said component to capture the latter for movement with the rotor section upon rotation thereof in said direction,

said housing having internal recesses spaced at angular intervals equal to said are,

said opening being disposed to permit radial movement of said component into and out of each of said recesses between a locked position engaging the housing within an individual recess, and an unlocked position clearing the recesses where said rotor section is free to rotate,

said inner member having a plurality of radially outwardly projecting, regularly angularly spaced lockinglugs equal in number to said recesses,

one of said lugs, when said inner member is in its standby position, engaging said component to hold the latter in the locked position thereof,

said inner member, in its operated position, rotating said one lug out of engagement with said component to permit movement thereof to said unlocked position and attendant rotation of said rotor section until the component engages the next lug in said direction.

20. The device as claimed in claim 13,

said one member being said outer member and said other member being said inner member,

said latch means including an antifriction component,

said rotor section having an opening therein receiving said component to capture the latter for movement with the rotor section upon rotation in said direction,

said inner member having outwardly facing recesses therein spaced at angular intervals equal to said arc,

said opening being disposed to pennit radial movement of said component into and out of each of said recesses between a locked position engaging the inner member within an individual recess, and an unlocked position clearing the recesses where said rotor section is free to rotate, said outer member having a plurality of radially inwardly projecting, regularly angularly spaced locking lugs equal in number to said recesses,

one of said lugs, when said outer member is in its standby position, engaging said component to hold the latter in the locked position thereof,

said outer member, in its operated position, rotating said one lug out of engagement with said component to permit movement thereof to said unlocked position and attendant rotation of said rotor section until the component engages the next lug in said direction.

21. The device of claim 20,

each adjacent pair of said locking lugs defining an internal recess therebetween in said outer member,

said component moving radially outwardly into one of said internal recesses in said outer member to its unlocked position upon rotation of said outer member to the operated position thereof,

the angular lengths of said internal recesses in the outer member being greater than the angular lengths of said outwardly facing recesses in said inner member, whereby to minimize the angular displacement of the outer member between its standby and operated positions. 

1. Mechanism for controlling successive equal increments of rotational motion of rotatable structure, said mechanism comprising: an outer, annular control member; an inner control member disposed within said outer member in substantially coaxial relationship thereto; a rotor adapted for coupling with said structure and disposed within said outer member in surrounding relationship to said inner member, one of said members being rotatable with respect to the other of said members; actuating means connected to said one member for rotating the latter from a standby to an operated position; and latch means between said members operable to lock the rotor to said other member and thereby hold the structure against rotation in one direction, said latch means being movable into disposition freeing the rotor and thereby said structure for rotation in said direction upon operation of the actuating means to rotate said one member to said operated position thereof, said actuating means returning said one member to its standby position to interrupt rotation of the rotor after the latter has rotated through a predetermined arc, whereby to interrupt rotation of the structure after the latter has rotated through one of said increments.
 2. The mechanism as claimed in claim 1, said other member having means engageable by said latch means and cooperating therewith to effect said locking of the rotor to said other member.
 3. The mechanism as claimed in claim 1, said latch means being radially shiftable toward and away from said other member between a position engaging said other member to lock said rotor thereto, and said disposition freeing the rotor where the latch means is out of locking engagement with said other member, said latch means, upon rotation of said one member to its operated position, being movable with said rotor as the latter rotates in said direction.
 4. The mechanism as claimed in claim 3, said other member having means for receiving said latch means each time said rotor rotates through said arc, said one member, upon return of the latter to the standby position thereof, effecting radial shifting of said latch means toward said other member and into said receiving means to its locking position.
 5. The mechanism as claimed in claim 1, said latch means including an antifriction component, said rotor having an opening therein receiving said component to capture the latter for movement with the rotor upon rotation thereof in said direction, said other member having recesses therein spaced at angular intervals equal to said arc, said opening being disposed to permit radial movement of said component into and out of each of said recesses between a locked position engaging said other member within an individual recess, and an unlocked position clearing the recesses where said rotor is free to rotate, said one member having a plurality of radially projecting, regularly angularly spaced locking lugs equal in number to said recesses, one of said lugs, when said one member is in its standby position, engaging said component to hold the latter in the locked position thereof, said one member, in its operated position, rotating said one lug out of engagement with said component to permit movement thereof to said unlocked position and attendant rotation of said rotor until the component engages the next lug in said direction.
 6. The mechanism as claimed in claim 5, said lugs, when said one member is in its standby position, being in substantial radial alignment with said recesses whereby said component is held in one of the recesses when said one member is in its standby position before rotation thereof by said actuating means, and is subsequently forced into the next recess in said direction upon return Of said one member to the standby position following freeing of the rotor.
 7. The mechanism as claimed in claim 1, said rotor being provided with a drive part externally of said outer member; and means engageable with said part for driving the rotor in said direction as said one member returns to its standby position.
 8. The mechanism as claimed in claim 1, said rotor being provided with ratchet teeth externally of said outer member; and a pawl movable with said one member and engageable with said teeth for driving the rotor in said direction as said one member returns to its standby position.
 9. The mechanism as claimed in claim 1, said one member being said inner member and said other member being said outer member. said outer member presenting a tubular housing receiving said rotor and said inner member therewithin.
 10. The mechanism as claimed in claim 9, said latch means including an antifriction component, said rotor having an opening therein receiving said component to capture the latter for movement with the rotor upon rotation thereof in said direction, said housing having internal recesses spaced at angular intervals equal to aid arc, said opening being disposed to permit radial movement of said component into and out of each of said recesses between a locked position engaging the housing within an individual recess, and an unlocked position clearing the recesses where said rotor is free to rotate, said inner member having a plurality of radially outwardly projecting, regularly angularly spaced locking lugs equal in number to said recesses, one of said lugs, when said inner member is in its standby position, engaging said component to hold the latter in the locked position thereof, said inner member, in its operated position, rotating said one lug out of engagement with said component to permit movement thereof to said unlocked position and attendant rotation of said rotor until the component engages the next lug in said direction.
 11. The mechanism as claimed in claim 1, said one member being said outer member and said other member being said inner member, said latch means including an antifriction component, said rotor having an opening therein receiving said component to capture the latter for movement with the rotor upon rotation thereof in said direction, said inner member having outwardly facing recesses therein spaced at angular intervals equal to said arc, said opening being disposed to permit radial movement of said component into and out of each of said recesses between a locked position engaging the inner member within an individual recess, and an unlocked position clearing the recesses where said rotor is free to rotate, said outer member having a plurality of radially inwardly projecting, regularly angularly spaced locking lugs equal in number to said recesses, one of said lugs, when said outer member is in its standby position, engaging said component to hold the latter in the locked position thereof, said outer member, in its operated position, rotating said one lug out of engagement with said component to permit movement thereof to said unlocked position and attendant rotation of said rotor until the component engages the next lug in said direction.
 12. The mechanism as claimed in claim 11, each adjacent pair of said locking lugs defining an internal recess therebetween in said outer member, said component moving radially outwardly into one of said internal recesses in said outer member to its unlocked position upon rotation of said outer member to the operated position thereof, the angular lengths of said internal recesses in the outer member being greater than the angular lengths of said outwardly facing recesses in said inner member, whereby to minimize the angular displacement of the outer member between its standby and operated positions.
 13. A device for controlling successive release of artIcles from a stacked supply thereof, said device comprising: an outer, annular control member; an inner control member disposed within said outer member in substantially coaxial relationship thereto; rotatable structure having a plurality of radially extending, angularly spaced, article blocking elements and provided with a rotor section disposed within said outer member in surrounding relationship to said inner member, one of said members being rotatable with respect to the other of said members; actuating means connected to said one member for rotating the latter from a standby to an operated position; and latch means between said members operable to lock the rotor section to said other member and thereby hold the structure against rotation in a direction permitting release of an article from said supply thereof, said latch means being movable into disposition freeing the rotor section and thereby said structure for rotation in said direction upon operation of the actuating means to rotate said one member to said operated position thereof, said actuating means returning said one member to its standby position to interrupt rotation of the structure after the latter has rotated through an arc permitting the elements to release one article from said stacked supply thereof.
 14. The device as claimed in claim 13, said elements comprising a single release unit and being disposed to cause one element to engage and block the lowermost article of a single stack thereof when said one member is in its standby position, while all of the remaining elements are disposed to move successively into blocking relationship to respective next lowermost articles of said stack as said structure rotates incrementally to unblock successive lowermost articles and thereby release the same one by one from said stack, said one member having means cooperating with said latch means to effect said interruption of rotation of the structure when said arc equals 360* divided by the number of said elements.
 15. The device as claimed in claim 13, said structure having a plurality of sets of said elements on a common shaft rigid with said rotor section, said sets being spaced apart along said shaft in disposition to control the release of corresponding stacks of articles of said stacked supply thereof, the elements of each of said sets being disposed to cause one element thereof to engage and block the lowermost article of the corresponding stack when said one member is in its standby position, while all of the remaining elements of the set are disposed to move successively into blocking relationship to respective next lowermost articles as said structure rotates incrementally to unblock the lowermost articles of the stacks and thereby release the lowermost articles, said sets being angularly offset to effect equal depletion of the stacks and the release of one of said lowermost articles at a time, said one member having means cooperating with said latch means to effect said interruption of rotation of the structure when said arc has permitted the release of only one of said lowermost articles.
 16. The device as claimed in claim 13, there being means engageable with said structure for driving the latter in said direction as said one member returns to its standby position, whereby to assure that rotation of the structure commences in the event that the supply of articles is low.
 17. The device as claimed in claim 13, said rotor section being provided with ratchet teeth externally of said outer member; and a pawl movable with said one member and engageable with said teeth for driving the rotor section in said direction as said one member returns to its standby position, whereby to assure that rotation of the structure commences in the event that the supply of articles is low.
 18. The device as claimed in claim 13, said one member being said inner member and said other member being said outer membEr, said outer member presenting a tubular housing receiving said rotor section and said inner member therewithin.
 19. The device as claimed in claim 18, said latch means including an antifriction component, said rotor section having an opening therein receiving said component to capture the latter for movement with the rotor section upon rotation thereof in said direction, said housing having internal recesses spaced at angular intervals equal to said arc, said opening being disposed to permit radial movement of said component into and out of each of said recesses between a locked position engaging the housing within an individual recess, and an unlocked position clearing the recesses where said rotor section is free to rotate, said inner member having a plurality of radially outwardly projecting, regularly angularly spaced locking lugs equal in number to said recesses, one of said lugs, when said inner member is in its standby position, engaging said component to hold the latter in the locked position thereof, said inner member, in its operated position, rotating said one lug out of engagement with said component to permit movement thereof to said unlocked position and attendant rotation of said rotor section until the component engages the next lug in said direction.
 20. The device as claimed in claim 13, said one member being said outer member and said other member being said inner member, said latch means including an antifriction component, said rotor section having an opening therein receiving said component to capture the latter for movement with the rotor section upon rotation in said direction, said inner member having outwardly facing recesses therein spaced at angular intervals equal to said arc, said opening being disposed to permit radial movement of said component into and out of each of said recesses between a locked position engaging the inner member within an individual recess, and an unlocked position clearing the recesses where said rotor section is free to rotate, said outer member having a plurality of radially inwardly projecting, regularly angularly spaced locking lugs equal in number to said recesses, one of said lugs, when said outer member is in its standby position, engaging said component to hold the latter in the locked position thereof, said outer member, in its operated position, rotating said one lug out of engagement with said component to permit movement thereof to said unlocked position and attendant rotation of said rotor section until the component engages the next lug in said direction.
 21. The device of claim 20, each adjacent pair of said locking lugs defining an internal recess therebetween in said outer member, said component moving radially outwardly into one of said internal recesses in said outer member to its unlocked position upon rotation of said outer member to the operated position thereof, the angular lengths of said internal recesses in the outer member being greater than the angular lengths of said outwardly facing recesses in said inner member, whereby to minimize the angular displacement of the outer member between its standby and operated positions. 